Electronic device and circuit module thereof

ABSTRACT

A circuit module includes a board, a boosting circuit, a processing and a plasma tube. The board is for connecting with a circuit board device with opposite thicknesswise sides. The boosting circuit includes at least one conductive path and electronic components electrically connected to the conductive path. The conductive path includes a power input portion electrically connecting with a power output portion of the circuit board device and two power output terminals. The processing unit is includes a frequency changing circuit electrically connected with the power input portion and the boosting circuit and for transferring an input power into an output power for the boosting circuit, and the input and output power has different frequencies. The plasma tube is electrically connected to the two power output terminals. An electronic device includes one said circuit module and a circuit board device electrically connected to the circuit module.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electronic device and circuit modulethereof.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A conventional electronic device includes a circuit board and alight-emitting diode, the circuit board can be electrically insertedinto and connected with a mother board, and the light-emitting diode isarranged on a portion of the circuit board where paths gather.Electricity transferred from the mother board to the circuit boardallows the light-emitting diode to either emit light or not to emitlight. This type of electronic device is disclosed in TWM263537.

However, the light-emitting diode is a light-emitting component whichhas greater light-emitting efficiency; therefore, if the light emittedfrom the light-emitting diode is projected into eyes of a user, the usermay feel uncomfortable. In addition, this type of light-emittingcomponent either emits light or does not emit light, so it is monotonousand unappealing to the user.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate theafore-described disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The major object of the present invention is to provide an electronicdevice and circuit module thereof, which can produce lightening-shapedrays via a plasma tube, and through a processing unit producing outputpower having different frequencies, the plasma tube can produce variouslight fluctuation. Compared with prior arts, the rays emitted from theplasma tube is more comfortable to the eyes of a user. In addition, thepresent invention is also pleasing to the eye when being inserted into amother board.

To achieve the above and other objects, a circuit module is provided forbeing electrically connected with a circuit board device, and thecircuit board device includes a power output portion. The circuit moduleincludes a board, a boosting circuit, a processing unit and a plasmatube. The board is for being connected with the circuit board devicewith thicknesswise sides of the board and the circuit board deviceopposite to each other; the boosting circuit is disposed on the board,the boosting circuit includes at least one conductive path and aplurality of electronic components which are electrically connected withthe conductive path, the at least one conductive path includes a powerinput portion for being electrically connected with the power outputportion and two power output terminals; the processing unit is disposedon the board and includes a frequency changing circuit which iselectrically connected with the power input portion and the boostingcircuit. The frequency changing circuit can transfer an input powerhaving a first frequency from the power input portion to an output powerhaving a second frequency and transmit the output power to the two poweroutput terminals, the first and second frequencies are different; twoopposite ends of the plasma tube have two electrodes which areelectrically connected with the two power output terminals.

To achieve the above and other objects, an electronic device is furtherprovided, including the above-mentioned circuit module, furtherincluding a circuit board device which is electrically connected withthe circuit module. The circuit board device is connected with the boardof the circuit module with the thicknesswise sides of the board and thecircuit board device opposite to each other.

The present invention will become more obvious from the followingdescription when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferredembodiment(s) in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of an electronic device of a preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a breakdown drawing of the electronic device of the preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a drawing showing a combination of a circuit module and acircuit board device of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a structural relation of the circuitmodule of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a partially-enlarged drawing of the electronic device of thepreferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be clearer from the following descriptionwhen viewed together with the accompanying drawings, which show, forpurpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment in accordancewith the present invention.

Please refer to FIGS. 1 to 4 for a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. A circuit module 1 is provided for being electricallyconnected with a circuit board device 40, the circuit board device 40includes a power output portion 200, and the circuit module 1 includes aboard 10, a boosting circuit 20, a processing unit 24 and a plasma tube30. Moreover, the boosting circuit 20 can transfer a low-voltage powerinput from the circuit board device 40 or a frequency changing powerfrom the processing unit 24 into a high-voltage alternating current or ahigh-voltage pulsed direct current for the plasma tube 30 to use to emita plurality of flashing lightning.

The board 10 is provided for being connected with the circuit boarddevice 40 with thicknesswise sides of the board 10 and the circuit boarddevice 40 opposite to each other. It is understandable that the boardand the circuit board device may be integrally formed.

The boosting circuit 20 is disposed on the board 10, and the boostingcircuit 20 includes at least one conductive path and a plurality ofelectronic components 202 which are electrically connected with the atleast one conductive path. The at least one conductive path includes apower input portion 201 for being electrically connected with the poweroutput portion 200 and two power output terminals 23. Specifically, theconductive path is buried in the board 10. The board 10 and theconductive path form a printed circuit board, and the conductive pathmay be disposed on the board in other ways. More specifically, theboosting circuit 20 can transfer a low-voltage direct current input fromthe power input portion 201 into the high-voltage alternating current,and then the high-voltage alternating current is transferred through thetwo power output terminals 23 to the plasma tube 30. It isunderstandable that the boosting circuit 20 can also transfer thelow-voltage direct current into the high-voltage pulsed direct current.In this embodiment, the power input portion 201 is provided for beingelectrically connected with a memory (the circuit board device 40) whichis formed with the power output portion 200, and of course, the powerinput portion may also be electrically connected with a display card, anetwork card or a printed circuit board which is formed with the poweroutput portion.

More specifically, the board 10 has at least one through hole 100 for atleast one said electronic component 202 to be disposed therewithin todecrease a thickness of the circuit module 1. In this embodiment, theboard 10 has the plurality of through holes 100 so that a portion ofeach said electronic component 202 can be disposed within each saidthrough hole 100. It is understandable that the board may have only onethrough hole, and a plurality of electronic components are disposedtherewithin; or the board may have only one through hole, and anelectronic component which occupies greater space is inserted therein.In other embodiments, the board may be formed without any through hole,and the electronic component can be welded on the board directly like atraditional circuit board.

More specifically, the plurality of electronic components 202 include aplurality of passive components 210 and at least one transformer 220.The plurality of passive components 210 are electrically connected withone another to form a low-voltage boosting circuit 21 which iselectrically connected with the power input portion 201 and theprocessing unit 24 so that the low-voltage boosting circuit 21 cantransfer a power supplied by the circuit board device 40 into analternating current or a pulsed direct current. The at least onetransformer 220 forms a high-voltage boosting circuit 22 which iselectrically connected with between the low-voltage boosting circuit 21and the two power output terminals 23, and the high-voltage boostingcircuit 22 can transfer a low-voltage power into a high-voltage powerfor the plasma tube 30 to use. In this embodiment, the plurality ofelectronic components 202 only have one said transformer 220; but inother embodiments, the plurality of electronic components 202 may have aplurality of transformers, and through the processing unit, differentpins output signals to make different transformers output differentvoltages and produce various light fluctuation.

The processing unit 24 is disposed on the board 10, and the processingunit 24 includes a frequency changing circuit 240 which is electricallyconnected with the power input portion 201 and the boosting circuit 20.Through the frequency changing circuit 240, a input power having a firstfrequency input from the power input portion 201 can be transferred intoan output power having a second frequency, the output power having thesecond frequency is transmitted to the boosting circuit 20. The firstand second frequencies are different. More specifically, the boostingcircuit 20 can receive a power input from the power input portion 201and a power input from the frequency changing circuit 240 and transfertwo said powers into a high-voltage pulsed direct current or ahigh-voltage alternating current having a predetermined frequency to beoutput to the two power output terminals 23. It is understandable thatthe frequency changing circuit may transfer an input power having afirst frequency into an output power having at least two differentfrequencies and transmit the output power through different pins of theprocessing unit to the boosting circuit; and of course, the power havingdifferent frequencies may be transmitted through a same pin in apredetermined sequence to the boosting circuit. In other embodiment, theprocessing unit can transfer not only frequency but also voltage so asto alter a wave form of the output power and make the plasma tubeproduce various light fluctuation.

Two opposite ends of the plasma tube 30 have two electrodes 31electrically connected with the two power output terminals 23.Specifically, the plasma tube 30 has a low-pressure inert gas therein,and a fluorescent substance is spread on an inner wall of the plasmatube 30; therefore, when a high-voltage current goes through the plasmatube 30, the inert gas is ionized to emit ultraviolet light, and theultraviolet light reacts with the fluorescent substance to emit flashinglightning. More specifically, each said electrode 31 includes anelectrode cap 310 which is located in the plasma tube 30 and is hollow,and the two electrode caps 310 are substantially coaxially arranged;therefore, rays can be projected out along a circumferential edge of theelectrode caps 310 and scattered (as shown in FIG. 5). Compared with aconcentrated ray produced by a traditional electrode, the scattered raysare more pleasing to the eye.

An electronic device 2 is further provided, including an above-mentionedcircuit module 1, further including a circuit board device 40 which iselectrically connected with the circuit module 1. The circuit boarddevice 40 is connected with the board 10 of the circuit module 1 withthicknesswise sides of the board 10 and the circuit board device 40opposite to each other. In this embodiment, the circuit board device 40is a memory, the circuit board device may be a display card, a networkcard or a printed circuit board, and the board of the circuit module andthe circuit board device may be integrally formed.

The circuit board device 40 further includes an electric insert row 41which is for being inserted into an electric insert slot of a computermother board, and the electric insert row 41 is arranged on a side ofthe circuit board device 40 opposite to the circuit module 1. It isunderstandable that the electric insert row 41 may be an insert rowwhich matches Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI), PeripheralComponent Interconnect Express (PCI-E) or other connection interfaces soas to transfer data between the circuit board device 40 and the computermother board through the electric insert row 41.

At least one bridging member 42 is further connected with between thecircuit board device 40 and the board 10 of the circuit module 1, eachsaid bridging member 42 is arranged across the thicknesswise sides ofthe circuit board device 40 and the board 10 of the circuit module 1,and two ends of each said bridging member 42 are fixedly connected tothe circuit board device 40 and the board 10 of the circuit module 1respectively. It is understandable that a portion of the bridging member42 can serve as a conductive path for transferring a power of thecircuit board device 40 to the circuit module 1.

The electronic device 2 further includes two heat-dissipating sheets 3,and the two heat-dissipating sheets 3 are covered on two opposite sidesof the electronic device 2. In addition, the two heat-dissipating sheets3 are respectively covered on a face of the circuit board device 40 sothat heat produced during an operating process of the circuit boarddevice 40 can be emitted out to prevent the electronic device 2 frombeing nonfunctional or damaged because of overheating. It isunderstandable that the electronic device 2 may be optionally formedwith the heat-dissipating sheet. The electronic device 2 furtherincludes at least one shell 4, and the shell 4 is engagedly connectedwith one of the heat-dissipating sheets 3 substantially in parallel on aside of the electronic device 2. In this embodiment, the electronicdevice 2 includes two said shells 4, and most part of the circuit module1 and the circuit board device 40 are covered by the two shells 4 andthe two heat-dissipating sheets 3 to prevent the circuit module 1 andthe circuit board device 40 from being damaged. It is understandablethat the shell may be made of a heat-dissipatable material so that theshell can dissipate heat. In other embodiments, the heat-dissipatingsheet and the shell may be integrally formed and have the effect ofdecoration, protection and heat-dissipation.

Given the above, the plasma tube of the present invention emit flashinglightning which is more comfortable to the user compared with the lightof a light-emitting diode.

In addition, the processing unit can produce the output power havingdifferent frequencies to be transferred through the boosting circuit,and the power output terminal outputs the power in different waveformsso as to make the plasma tube produce various light fluctuation.

While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance withthe present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the artthat further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope ofthe present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A circuit module, provided for being electricallyconnected with a circuit board device, the circuit board deviceincluding a power output portion, the circuit module including: a board,for being connected with the circuit board device with thicknesswisesides of the board and the circuit board device opposite to each other;a boosting circuit, disposed on the board, including at least oneconductive path and a plurality of electronic components which areelectrically connected with the at least one conductive path, the atleast one conductive path including a power input portion which is forbeing electrically connected with the power output portion and two poweroutput terminals; a processing unit, disposed on the board, theprocessing unit including a frequency changing circuit which iselectrically connected with the power input portion and the boostingcircuit, the frequency changing circuit being capable of transferring aninput power having a first frequency from the power input portion to anoutput power having a second frequency and transmitting the output powerto the boosting circuit, the first and second frequencies beingdifferent; a plasma tube, two ends thereof having two electrodes whichare electrically connected with the two power output terminals.
 2. Thecircuit module of claim 1, wherein the board has at least one throughhole, and at least one said electronic component is disposed within thethrough hole.
 3. The circuit module of claim 1, wherein each saidelectrode includes an electrode cap which is located inside the plasmatube and is hollow, and the two electrode caps are substantiallycoaxially arranged.
 4. The circuit module of claim 1, wherein the powerinput portion is for being electrically connected with a memory, adisplay card, a network card or a printed circuit board which is formedwith the power output portion.
 5. The circuit module of claim 1, whereinthe plurality of electronic components include a plurality of passivecomponents and at least one transformer, the plurality of passivecomponents are electrically connected with one another to form alow-voltage boosting circuit which is electrically connected with thepower input portion and the processing unit, and the at least onetransformer forms a high-voltage boosting circuit which is electricallyconnected with between the low-voltage boosting circuit and the twopower output terminals.
 6. An electronic device, including the circuitmodule of claim 1, further including a circuit board device which iselectrically connected with the circuit module, the circuit board devicebeing connected with the board of the circuit module with thicknesswisesides of the board and the circuit board device opposite to each other.7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the circuit board devicefurther includes an electric insert row which is provided for beingelectrically inserted into an electric insert slot of a computer motherboard, and the electric insert row is arranged on a side of the circuitboard device opposite to the circuit module.
 8. The electronic device ofclaim 6, wherein at least one bridging member is connected with betweenthe circuit board device and the board of the circuit module, each saidbridging member is arranged across the thicknesswise sides of the boardand the circuit board device, and two ends of each said bridging memberare fixedly connected to the circuit board device and the board of thecircuit module respectively.
 9. The electronic device of claim 6,further including two heat-dissipating sheets, the two heat-dissipatingsheets arranged on two opposite sides of the electronic device.
 10. Theelectronic device of claim 9, further including at least one shell, theshell engagedly connected with one of the heat-dissipating sheetssubstantially in parallel on a side of the electronic device.